HF Cat vs Test pipes on my new Z

Æon

Hi all. I'm brand new here. Just picked myself up a Red 2009 touring with sport package with 77,000 KM for around $20,500, which is pretty low here in Canada. I had just purchased myself a 2009 GTi six months before, and I was loving the little turbo hatch, but I just needed to get a RWD, 2 seater, utterly impractical car while my life still allowed me to do so. It was either before I had kids, or once they were in college, so I chose the former! I may have to sell it in a year once I get my presale condo build, so any minor mods I do will have to have "value" in mind.

I do have a question, though, before this thread gets moved...

I've been reading around here and it seems like the most important mod for performance from stock is to put in a HF cat or test pipes. Since we don't have emission restrictions here anymore, and considering the price difference, I think I'll opt for the test pipes. That way I can keep the cat and pop it back in if I want. Is there any other advantage to the HF cat instead?
Can anyone recommend one brand of test pipes over another, or does it even matter?

Thanks